Beehive.



L. GORSUCH.

Patented June 9,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P L I N couu GOFZBUCH COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPN CO..WAsmNuTON. D. c.

L. GORSUGH.

BEEHIVE.

APPLICATION FILED IBBHI, 1914 Patented June 9,191L

3 SHEBTBSHEET 3.

mun-I gggggggay Elwucmtoz UNCOLN GORQUCH wuneom LINCOLN GORSUCH, 0FLAZEAR, COLORADO.

IBEEHIVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented June 9, 1914]..

Application filed February 7, 1914. Serial No. 817,315.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, lnnconn (lousoon, acitizen of the United States, residing at Lazear, in the county of Deltaand State of (,Iolorado, have invented certain new and useful.Improvements in Beehives, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bee hives, andmore particularly to the general structure thereof and the primaryobject of the invention is to provide a device of this character whichis simpler in constrmation and more readily set up or taken down, whendesired, than the hives in present use.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a means forpartially removing the brood frames for inspection of the colony and astill further object resides in providing a .novel form of hinged sidewall for the hive.

Still another object of the invention resides in providing a devicewhich is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufactureand one which will be very efficient and useful in operation.

W'ith these and, other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in thespecification and claims.

in the accon'ipanying drawings forming a part of this application,Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device constructed in accordance withmy invention, with parts broken away and disclosed in section. Fig.2 isan end elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof partlyin section, the top being removed. Fig. 4t is a fragmentary section, asseen on line 4%, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section as seen on line 55, Fig. 1,loo-king in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a fragmentarysectional view through the device showing the feed box inverted. Fig. 7is a fragmentary end view showing the front wall in its partially openposition and disclosing the V-shaped plate in position. Fig. 8 is an endelevation with parts broken away and parts in section, showing the frontwall of the device in its partially open. position and the V-shapedplate in position with respect thereto. Fig. 9 is a perspective view ofone of the V-shapcd plates used in connection with the device. Fig. 10is a vertical transverse section through the device showing thepartition or division wall in position therein. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan View showing the dividing plate in position and the topremoved. Fig. 12 is a section as seen on line 12-42, Fig. ll, looking inthe direction of the arrow; and Fig, 13 is a fragmentary end elevationshowing the block used in connection with the dividing plate.

.In describing my lUVtlHlOII. il shall refer to the drawings in whichsimilar reference characters designate correspomling parts throughoutthe several views and in which 1 indicates a stand or base for thedevice, which is designed to form a rectangular housing, the upper wallthereof forming the floor proper for the hive, and secured to the upperwall of the stand, which forms the floor proper, are the cleats orbottom boards 2. Two of these cleats extend longitudinally the fulllength of the stand. and a third cleat is secured thcrebctween, alongone end of the device, while no clcat is provided at the o posite end,the latter end forming the entrance end of the device, as will behereinafter and more particularly set forth. Securely mounted on the onelongitudinal cleat, is a rear wall 3, and secured to the ends of therear wall and resting on both longitudinal cleats are the end walls land 5. A. front wall (5 is provided for the hive, the latter havingtrunnions 7 projecting from the end edges, adjacent the lower edgethereof, which are loosely mounted in openings in the end walls 4 and 5.These trunni ns are threaded and nuts 8 are engaged therewith, wherebyto pivotallv sllImOrt the front wall in position between the end walls.The front edges of the end walls t and 5, adjacent the upper endsthereof, are providcd with notches 9, which receive therein additionaltrunnions 10 carried on the front wall adjacent the upper edge thereof.These trunnions are also threaded and have nuts 11 engaged therewith,whereby when said trunnions are properly engaged in the notches 9, saidnuts may be turned home and the front wall securely held in positionbetween the end walls.

The end walls have the inner faces thereof offset at the front edges ofthe same, as

edges of the end walls are also offset from the inner faces thereof, asshown at 1 1 and the upper edges of these offset portions receiveinrestmg engagement thereon the projections of the self-spacing broodframes 16. 7 These brood frames are of atype well known to the art andare obviously for the purpose of holding the combs. I provide asufficient number of brood frames, (eight, as shown in the drawings), asto completely fill the hive and fit snugly against one another, when thefront wall 6 is disposed to its raised or closed position and thus thecustomary division board which is ordinarily a worthless division, iseliminated.

It must be here stated that the additional trunnions '10 on the frontwall 6, project slightly beyond the outer faces of the end walls andhook members are provided for engagement therewith, to additionallyretain saidfront wall in upright position. To this end, the lockingstrips 17 are pivotally mounted on the outer faces of the end wallsadjacent the upper ends thereof, said strips being provided with lookingnotches 18, adjacen't their free ends and projecting inwardly from oneof the edges thereof.

These notches are adapted to receive the projecting portions of thetrunnions and when the nuts on said trunnions are turned home,

said locking strips will besecurely retained in position on thetrunnions, whereby the: front wall will be securely held in positionj Aspreviously stated, the stand 1 is of a housing-like character, the upperwall of which forms the floor proper of the hive. This upper face orwall of the stand or housing is provided with a pair of spaced openings19 at one end'thereof. A drawer 20 is slidabl'y mounted in this latterend of the stand or base 1 and when disposed so that -the same opensupwardly, the openings '19 afford communication between the drawer andthe interior of the hiveproper. This drawer forms a feeder for thedevice and is provided with a downwardly inclined wall 21, the latterbeing formed preferably of wire mesh and'terminating slightly in advanceof the one sidewall of the drawer proper. The bees, when desiring to befed, may readily crawl through the openings 19 and enter the drawer orfeed member 20. In view of the inclined wall 21, it will be seen thatthe bees are not liable ,to be drowned, as is true in most of the hivesnow in use. :When it is not desired to permitthe edges of the end walls.

hen itis desired'toinspect the brood frames, the nuts 11 on'theadditional truunions are slightly disengaged from the looking strips 17and the latter raised out of en:

gagement with the trunnions 10. The front walls 6 may then be opened. Inthe inspection of the device when it is not desired to entirely lowerthe front wall, in order to permit the same to be retained in apartially lowered position, a pair of triangularly-shaped blocks 22 areprovided, the same fitting in the offsets at the ends of the front walland in the offsets at the front Additional hook members '23 arepivotally carried on the outer faces of the end walls at and 5 and thesame are adapted to be engaged withfthe trunnions 10 when the blocks 22are prop erly positioned between. the end walls and the front wall. Whenso positioned, the

front wall will be locked in a partially open position, incliningupwardly and outwardly from 1ts pivoted lower edge. The brood frames arethen ada ted to be drawn one at a time, from their positions to restupon the 'upper edges of the blocks 22- in an inclined position and aseach brood frame is removed from its initial position, the same will bereadily and quickly inspected. -The complete set of brood frames may bereadily replaced to their initial. positions simultaneously by theforcinginwardly'of the first brood frame removed and the hook members 23may be disengaged from the additional trunnions and the blocks 22removed,whereupon the front wall 6 may be returned, to its initiallocked and raised position. Of course, should any defect be found in thecomb or other portion of any one ofthe brood frames, the same may beremoved and readily replaced by a new frameat the'time of inspection. Ofthis particular construe? tion, which is hereabove'Idescribed, 'as a'means for inspecting the brood frames, without entirely removing thesame from the hive, it is extremely important to know the fact that allof the brood frames may be returned to their initial positions simultaneously upon the forcing inwardly of the first brood frame removed. Thecomplete operation for partially removing the frames for inspection andthe return of the same to their initial positions, isa simple one, requiring but a very small amount of time and labor. 7

It is sometimes desirable or necessary to operate thehive in connection,with but half or a portion of the number of brood frames providedtherein. In order to carry out this idea, a'removable wall 2a isprovided,

the same being of a length slightly greater than the length of theinterior of the body of the hive proper and of a height substantiallyequal to the height of the latter. Formed on the upper portions of theside edges thereof, are tabs or projections 24* which are adapted to beseated on the shoulders or offset portions, indicated as 14. In applyingthis removable wall to use, as many brood frames as are desired to beused in connection therewith are permitted to remain in place in thebody of the hive to abut one another from the rear wall 3 thereof. Inorder to apply the removable wall 24: in place, however, it isnecessary, in view of its length, to remove the tight engagement of theside walls of the body of the hive from the bolts 7. In other words, thenuts 8 are loosened onthe bolts 7 and the nuts 11 loosened onthe bolts10, whereupon said side walls are forced somewhat outwardly. Theremovable wall 24. i may then be inserted in place against the forwardbrood frame, so that the projections or tabs 24 thereof will rest on theshoulders or offsets 14. When the nuts 11 and 8 are properly turned homeon their respective bolts, the side walls of the hive proper will,obviously bind tightly against the side edges of this wall 24; andsecurely retain the latter in place. When so disposed, it will be seenthat the brood frames will be held in proper position in the rearportion of the body of the device and a space left between the removablewall 24; and the front wall of the body of the hive. The hive is appliedto use in this manner when there is a weak colony and when it is foundthat another frame may be used, the removable wall is moved forwardly inthe device sufficiently to admit of another frame being applied therein.Of course, in the moving for wardly of this wall 24:, the side walls ofthe device must be removed from their tight engagement with the boltsand nuts 7 and 8 and the bolts and nuts 11 and 1.0, as described above.This operation may be continued until all of the frames are applied andthe removable wall 24 is then placed in disuse, as the same is notnecessary whatsoever when all the brood frames are in use. It will benoted that in the entrance opening of the device, there is a wide spacebetween the removable wall and the front wall of the device. In order tocover this opening, a block 25 is provided. This block .is applied tothe entrance space formed between the one end wall and the bottom of thehive and between the removable wall and the front wall of the hive, thesame be ing designed to abut at its one end a stop member or the like26, projecting from the floor of the hive proper and the other end beingadapted to abut the one side edge of the removable wall 24, adyacent thelower end of the latter. In this manner the por tion of the hive beingused is entirely in.- closed.

I have also provided an improved top or covering for my device which isindicated in the drawings as 27. This top is provided at its ends withthe end flanges 29, the one of which is secured to the one face of thetop and projects upwardly, while the other is secured to the oppositeface of the top and projects downwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. It is intended, in practice, that a number of these hivesshall be stacked, one on top of the other, and the function therefore ofthe upper flange 29 is to limit the inward movement of a superposedhive, while the lower cleat prevents the top or cover from being pushedoff of the hive. Secured to both faces of the top 27, are the layers ofroofing material indicated as 30 and, in the application of the flanges29 to use, the same are applied after this roofing material has beenapplied to the top. This roofing material is preferably secured'in placethroughout the area of the top, so as to fit tightly in place in allweather conditions.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improveddevice, the manner of applying the same to use and the operation thereofwill be readily understood and it will be seen that l have provided animproved bee hive which is a vast improvement over hives now in use andone which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture and one which will be very eflicient and useful inoperation.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to performthe functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form,proportion and in, the minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principlesof the invention.

llaving lhus described this invention, what I claim is z- Il. in a hive,a base member, a housing mounted thereon to form the body of the hiveproper, the front wall of said body being hinged in position, aplurality of brood frames mounted in the housing, means to secure thehinged wall in closed position on the housing, triangi'ilar side platesadapted to be disposed between the forward edges of the side walls ofthe housing and the front wall of the housing when the latter isdisposed to a partially open position, and means to lock said fronthinged wall in its partially open position, whereby to inspect theinterior of the housing.

2. In a hive, a base member, a housing mounted thereon to form the bodyof the hive proper, the front wall of said body be ing hinged at itslower end to open out lliO .. wardly, means to lock said front wall inmembers to lock said hinged wall in its partially open position, wherebyinspection may be hadof'the interior of the housing.

3. In a hive of the class'described, a base member, a housing mountedthereon designed to form the body of the hive, said base member formingthe floor of saidbody, and having openings therein within the body, saidbase member being also provided with a recess communicating with theinterior of the body through .the'medium of said openings, and aninvertible feeding member slidably mounted in said recess, saidfeedingmember, when inverted, being designed to cover the openings inthe base member. 7 i

4;. In a hive, a base member havinga re cess terminating inthe frontwallyof the same, the top of said base member being provided withopenings leading to said recess,

a housing mounted on said base memberand designed to form the body ofthe hive, the top ofsaid base member forming thefioor of said body, aninvertible drawer :slidably mounted in said recess and designed to forma feeding member when disposed in its upright position, entrance beinggained to the feeding member through the-medium of the open ngs in thetop of sald'base member,

and saiddrawer being designed'to close the aforesaid openings when thesame is inverted in the recess of the base member.

5. In a'bee hive, a base member a housing mounted thereon comprising arear wall, side walls secured thereto. a front wall hin 'ed at I 6 itslower edge to the'lower edges of the side walls at the forward edgesthereof, said front wall'bei'ng adjustably and removably mounted inposition, means to secure said front wall in its upright and closedposition, the upper face of said base forming the bottom of thehou.sing, a plurality of brood frames supported between the-sidewalls'of said housing and extending from the rear wall thereofforwardly, a removable wall operating the forward brood frame andadjustably secured in :position between the side front wall in its u ori'ht and closed )ositi'on the upper face of saidbase forming the bottomof the housing, shoulders-formed on-the inner faces of the side wallsadjacent the upperedges thereof, :a plurality of brood frames supportedon the shoulders of said 7 side walls, and extending from the rear wallof the housing forwardly, a wall adaptedi' for disposltion against theforward broodframe, and having lateral pro ections on the upper ends of:the side edges thereof to -rest on the shoulders of-the side walls ofsaid housing, said wall. being held in position under binding engagementwith the side walls of the housing, anda :cover for said housing.

7'. A cover of been hives 'comprising a body, of substantiallyrectangular deslgn,

:layers of roofing material applied to the :faces thereof, a flangesecured/to the roofing material on one face of the body, immediatelyadjacent the one end edge thereof,-and

an additional flangesecured to the roofing material on the opposite faceof the body, immediately adjacent the oppositeend edge of said body. 7

In testimony whereof I hereunto aitix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses;

INCOLN eoasucn l Vitnesses i J OHN E. IRVING, (irRACE FOWLER.

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 11-0.

